Swimming pool construction and related method



R. BEDICK 3,020,560

SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTION AND RELATED METHOD Feb. 13, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 20, 1960 Feb. 13, 1962 R. BEDICK 3,020,560

SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTION AND RELATED METHOD Filed June 20, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,020,560 SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTION AND RELATED METHOD Robert Bedick, Merrick, N.Y., assignor to Merit Associates, Inc., Long Island City, N.Y. Filed June 20, 1960, Ser. No. 37,291 2 Claims. (Cl. 4--172) This invention relates to swimming pool constructions and methods for providing the same.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved swimming pool constructions and improved methods for fabricating these constructions.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved swimming pool construction adapted for mass production and susceptible of prefabrication techniques.

Still another object of the invention relates to the provision of improved swimming pool constructions which are more practical and economical than those heretofore available.

Another object of the invention is to provide a swimming pool construction which requires a minimum of repairs and in connection with which repairs, when necessary, are very readily effected.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improved structure which is algae and bacteria resistant.

In achieving the above and other of its objectives, the invention contemplates the use of a framework supporting, for example, cement asbestos panels, constituting the sides of the pool structure and constituting lateral supports for a Vinyl sheet or the like which constitutes a receptacle for the pool water. The cement asbestos panels are amazingly resistant to deterioration, while performing the function of laterally supporting said vinyl sheet and the use of a vinyl sheet provides innumerable advantages regards installation and maintenance.

According to a feature of the invention, the vinyl sheet is supported from below by means of a sand bedding which is employed to coverthe floor of the excavation provided for accommodating the pool structure.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be found in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a partially completed installation of a swimming pool structure provided according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the completed swimming pool structure;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III--III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV--IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred arrangement for the corners of the pool structure, the corner arrangement being partially broken away and shown in enlarged scale;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5 illustrating a central support for the longitudinal sides of the pool structure;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the connection of the vinyl liner to the sides of the pool; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a fitting providing access to the pool for pumping operations and the like.

According to the invention, an appropriate site is selected for the swimming pool structure which is desired and an excavation is made in the ground at said site, such as generally indicated at 10. This excavation is generally of a right quadrilateral cross section to accommodate therein a swimming pool of like configuration.

Transversely of the longitudinal extent of the excavation is provided a slot or ditch 12 wherein is located a transverse beam 14. At opposite extremities of the beam 14 are located cementitious blocks 16 which serve as anchors for vertical posts 18. Vertical posts 18 are, in turn, braced by diagonal beams 20 connected with dead men 22.

As appears from FIGS. 2 and 3, the swimming pool is provided with a shallow end generally indicated at 24 and a deeper end generally indicated at 26. The shape of the deeper end is of the nature of an inverted truncated pyramid. Referring again to FIG. 1, it is noted that to provide a basis for this form of deeper end there is provided a supplemental hole 28 which at the outset has the shape of a right quadrilateral, the sides 30 of this hole being subsequently broken down and graded to yield the form illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The structure is provided with lateral sides 32 and 34 and with sides or ends 36 and 38.

Each of these sides includes a wooden framework constituted, for example, by a top rail 40 and a bottom rail 42 connected by vertical studs or posts 44. The bottom rails 42 are provided with a rectilinear series of openings through which are inserted bent anchor rods 46, the purpose of which is to hold the bottom rails 42 securely against the ground.

On top of the top rails 40 is provided an upper peripheral member or coping board 48, the purpose of which, aside from esthetics, is to hold the vinyl liner in position, as will be shown in greater detail hereinafter.

Attached to the above noted framework are cement asbestos panels 50. For a given side a single panel may be employed but, preferably, for convenience in handling, a series of panels will be employed which are placed in end to end abutting relationship. These panels constitute I one of the features of the invention since an examination effected by sun, ground moisture, freezing, thawing and the like. Morever, these panels are extremely resistant to chemicals in the soil and, furthermore, possess an unusually high compressive strength of, for example, 14,000 p.s.1.

FIG. 5 illustrates how the cement asbestos panels are maintained in position at the corners of the pool structure. Thus, for example, end posts 52 and 54 are in abutting relationship with adjacent panels 56 and 58, said posts abutting the panels along their respective narrow faces. Additionally, two further beams 60 and 62 are employed which are generally parallel to post 54, but perpendicular to post 52. Beam 60 is a spacer beam enabling beam 62 to overlap the corner formed by panels 56 and 58. Beams 60 and 62 are locked to post 54 by means of bolt 64, there being provided a transverse bolt 66 which pierces beam 62 through the larger cross sectional dimension thereof and fastens this beam to the post 52.

FIG. 6 illustrates that vertical post 18 (as first seen in FIG. 1) is sandwiched between two adjacent vertical studs 44a and 44b, the assembly being held together by means of bolts 68. FIG. 6 further illustrates how adjacent panels abut along a seam 70.

In the preparation of the pool structure, insofar as it has been noted above, it is intended that the bottom support be constituted by the ground in which the excavation is made. However, in view of the intended use of a vinyl or similar sheet to constitute the actual fluid container, provision is made for avoiding possible damage to this sheet by the ground and objects therein by the use of a sand surface provided on the floor or ground. Thus, after the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1 is completed Patented Feb. 13, 1962.

3 v by reshaping hole 28 into the inverted pyramidal form mentioned above, sand is dumped into the shallow end of the pool and raked down by the use of a common rake so as to provide a covering of about 210 4 inches, a minimum of 2 inches being preferred.

With the pool structure ready for completion, there is introduced the vinyl liner 72 generally indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4 and illustrated in substantial detail in FIG. 7.

In FIG. 7 between cement asbestos panel 74 and the liner 72 are sandwiched an interliner 76 of tar paper and gasketing 78, these members preventing contact between the liner and nails or the like maintaining the cement asbestos panels on the associated framework.

Also illustrated in FIG. 7 is the coping board 48 which constitutes the peripheral member of the swimming pool structure and which sandwiches the liner 72 against upper rail 40, these two members being locked together by bolts 80 so that the liner is appropriately held in position.

Although a vinyl liner has been found to be the most satisfactory in service from the point of view of performing its function and requiring a minimum of maintenance, it is appreciated that materials will become available from time to time which are also capable of performing the functions demanded of the liner. Thus, the liner may be other than vinyl provided that it is tough, flexible, and impermeable to water and, further provided that it inhibits or does not form a basis for the growth of bacteria and algae.

It will be appreciated that the liner must be of suflicient dimension to adequately cover the bottom of the pool as indicated in FIGS. 24 without being unduly stretched, but while conforming, nevertheless, rather precisely to the configuration of the pool.

Following the positioning of the liner 72,. it is then possible to provide the pool structure with inlets and outlets such as illustrated in FIG. 8, wherein. the circular fittings 82 and 84 are engaged in a hole 86 and clamped together by bolts 88 so as to sandwich the panel 74 and liner 72 therebetween. The circular fittings. 82. and 84 are appropriately threaded so as to provide for connections to pumps and auxiliary apparatus as desired.

The structure is completed by appropriate connection of a pump and filter arrangement (not shown) by means of the last mentioned circular fittings and the ditch enclosing the pool structure is then filled in, whereupon the pool is ready for use.

It will be appreciated from what has been stated above, that the liner itself constitutes a water storage means which is laterally supported by the cement asbestos panels on the associated frameworks, the bottom of the excavation itself surfaced with a sand bed supporting the liner from below. It is to be noted that the wooden frameworks and other wooden supporting members employed are, in accordance with the invention, appropriately treated with preservatives.

There will now be obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications and variations of the structure and methods set forth above. These modifications and variations will not, however, depart from the scope of the invention if defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A swimming pool structure comprising a plurality of sides defining an enclosure and a flexible waterproof member engaging said sides and extending between the lower extremities thereof to constitute a water storage means, said sides each comprising a wood framework and cement asbestos panels covering the framework on the inside and constituting lateral supports for said flexible member, said structure further comprising gasket and interliner members between said flexible member and said cement asbestos panels, at least one of the sides being provided with a hole, a first circular fitting engaging in said hole against the corresponding panel of the said one side, a second circular fitting engaging in said hole and pressing. against the vinyl adjacent the hole, and means to lock the fittings together.

2. A swimming pool structure comprising a plurality of sides defining an enclosure and a flexible waterproof member engaging said sides and extending between the lower extremities thereof to constitute a water storage means, said sides each comprising a wood framework and cement asbestos panels covering the framework on the inside and constituting lateral supports for said flexible member, said structure further comprising gasket and interliner members between said flexible member and said cement asbestos panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

